Quick-mount & pivot base for bicycle seat or the like

Abstract

A seat support platform is pivotally supported on a base member. A rotatable locking element is provided on the platform to selectively lock frame members of a saddle thereonto. A clamp rigidly connects the base with a support frame/chassis such as that of a stationary bicycle or the like. The clamp has upper and lower halves which are forced together by a cam lever arrangement.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A seat mounting base, comprising: 
       a top portion adapted to receive a seat, said top portion having a front portion and a back portion;  
       a bottom portion for supporting said top portion, said bottom portion having a front portion and a back portion;  
       a front post member connecting said front portion of said top portion to said front portion of said bottom portion;  
       a rear post member connecting said back portion of said top portion to said back portion of said bottom portion;  
       tilting means for adjusting a substantially forward-to-rearward tilt angle between said top portion and said bottom portion;  
       an adjustment device for causing said tilt means to move to an adjusted portion to raise or lower either the front portion or the back portion; of the top portion relative to the bottom portion;  
       said adjustment device for securing said tilt means in an adjusted position;  
       wherein said tilting means further comprises:  
       a shaft portion of at least one of said front post member and said rear post member, said shaft portion having a series of notches; and  
       a locking key having an opening therethrough, said opening having an enlarged portion larger than a cross-section of said shaft portion and a narrowed portion smaller than a cross-section of said shaft portion and larger than a cross-section of said series of notches, said locking key being adapted to slidably engage one of said top portion and said bottom portion to selectively align one of said enlarged portion and said narrow portion with said shaft portion for adjustably securing said shaft portion.  
     
     
       2. The seat mounting base according to  claim 1 , further including: 
       a rotatable lock block mounted on an upper surface of said top portion;  
       a lever connected to said lock block mounted on a lower surface of said top portion; and  
       spring means mounted between said lever and said lower surface of said top portion, said spring means adapted to force said lock block against a pair of elongate members of the seat to secure said seat to said top portion.  
     
     
       3. The seat mounting base according to  claim 1 , wherein said top portion is adapted to pivot side-to-side relative to said bottom portion. 
     
     
       4. The seat mounting base according to  claim 3 , further comprising a pair of springs provided between said top portion and said bottom portion, said pair of springs adapted to resist pivoting of said top portion relative to said bottom portion. 
     
     
       5. The seat mounting base according to  claim 4 , wherein said pair of springs are compression springs. 
     
     
       6. The seat mounting base according to  claim 4 , wherein said top portion and said bottom portion have recesses adapted to accommodate said pair of springs. 
     
     
       7. The seat mounting base according to  claim 1 , wherein said top portion is narrowed relative to said bottom portion of said top portion. 
     
     
       8. The seat mounting base according to  claim 1 , wherein said front post member and said rear post member are connected to said top portion by ball joints. 
     
     
       9. The seat mounting base according to  claim 1 , further comprising; 
       a rotatable lock block mounted on an upper surface of said top portion;  
       a lever connected to said lock block mounted on a lower surface of said top portion; and spring means mounted between said lever and said lower surface of said top portion.  
     
     
       10. The seat mounting base according to  claim 1 , wherein said top portion has an upper surface for receiving a seat having a pair of elongate members, said upper surface having longitudinal grooves for accommodating said elongate members therein. 
     
     
       11. The seat mounting base, according to  claim 11 , further including 
       hinge means connecting the other of said front portion and said back portion.  
     
     
       12. The seat mounting base according to  claim 11 , wherein said hinge means comprises: 
       a pair of hinge plates mounted to said bottom portion; and  
       a pair of pins, each of said pins pivotably connecting one of said pair of hinge plates to said top portion.  
     
     
       13. The seat mounting base according to  claim 11 , wherein said hinge means comprises: 
       a pair of hinge plates mounted to said top portion; and  
       a pair of pins, each of said pins pivotably connecting one of said pair of hinge plates to said bottom portion.  
     
     
       14. The seat mounting base according to  claim 11 , wherein said hinge means comprises: 
       a pair of hinge members, each hinge member comprising a first hinge element mounted to said top portion and a second hinge element mounted to said bottom portion, said first hinge element and said second hinge element being pivotably connected to each other by a pin.